Dominican Ronel Blanco was training in the morning and working at a car wash in the afternoon, when he was given the chance at 22 years old to play in Major League Baseball. He was recruited by a scout who was at his training field, Quico Peña, watching legendary pitcher Julio Rodriguez.
Now, two years later, in just his eighth start for the Houston Astros, 30-year old righty pitcher Ronel Blanco shocked all when he fired his first no-hitter. What is most outstanding, is that most of his pitches were strikes.
Previously mostly unknown, Ronel Blanco went all nine innings in the game the Houston Astros won 10-0 against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, 2 April 2024. The game is the first no-hitter of the 2024 season.
MLB reported the final out against Blanco’s fellow countryman Vladimir Guerrero Jr sent the Houston Minute Maid Park crowd of 27,285 into a frenzy.
The game is the 17th no-hitter in franchise history, including playoffs.
According to MLB baseball the game was also the earliest no-hitter in Major League Baseball history, the April Fools’ Day gem besting Hideo Nomo’s 2001 no-hitter for Boston by three days.
The game ended with Blanco finishing with a final out against fellow countryman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Ronel Blanco’s catcher was fellow Dominican Yanier Radhames Diaz. During the press conference after the game, Diaz spoke of Blanco executing the pitches the two had talked about.
USA Today
Fox Houston
El Dia
El Dia
3 April 2024